Archives for October 2012

When Jimmy Butler was drafted by the Chicago Bulls out of Marquette, eventually the idea was that he would replace Ronnie Brewer, and have a similar role within the bench mob. Now that Brewer is gone (and with him Kyle Korver, meaning 2/3 of the Chicago Jazz or Utah Bulls are now gone) it’s ready to happen.

It looks like Superstorm Sandy, hurricane Sandy, or post tropical cyclone Sandy whichever designation it has now, has claimed another sporting event. Here’s a tweet from @richsandomir from the New York Times:

Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series. Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.

We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.

The Ohio Bobcats were one of the teams to put on Cinderella’s slipper in last year’s NCAA Tournament, advancing as a 13 seed to the Sweet 16 where they nearly knocked off North Carolina before falling in overtime. Head coach John Groce left for Illinois but Jim Christian comes from TCU to lead an OU team that returns all nine rotation players from last season.

The Chicago Bulls will begin the season without Derrick Rose, of course, but they won’t have to begin the year without Kirk Hinrich. He’s back with the Bulls after signing with the team as a free agent this offesason. He will start alongside Richard Hamilton, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah tonight in the opener versus the Sacramento Kings.

Hinrich had been injured and missed significant time this exhibition season.

The Indiana Pacers were hoping to enter the 2012-13 NBA season with improved depth after shaking up their roster considerably during the summer.

What depth they do have took a hit Tuesday and will be tested early and often.

Pacers forward Danny Granger has been dealing with pain in his left knee and will be out indefinitely, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. That leaves Indiana without its top scorer each of the past five seasons for now, starting with tonight’s season opener at Toronto.

How will the Pacers look to compensate for Granger’s loss, however long it might last?

The Chicago White Sox agreed to terms with starting pitcher Jake Peavy, giving him a $29 million dollar two year extension. In addition to making a lot of money, he also won a Gold Glove award. The right-hander will receive $14.5 million each of the next two seasons. Peavy might receive a $15 million option in 2015, depending on the amount of innings he pitches during the next two years.

Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series. Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.

We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.

The Texas Longhorns were young last season and with no upperclassmen on their roster this year, Rick Barnes has a an even less experienced though talented team. One of the biggest question marks is the status of starting point guard Myck Kabongo.

Every time Wisconsin has the opportunity to pull away from what’s left of the Leaders division, they find a way screw it up and let the rest of them hang around. This week, it’s Indiana. You may say I’m absurd, but the Hoosiers are in control of their own destiny on the road to Indianapolis for the chance to play in the conference championship game. Although Indiana has three conference losses this season, Wisconsin now has two. Moreover, the Hoosiers and Badgers still have a showdown a couple of weeks from now, which could help Indiana get the edge come season’s end.

Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series. Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.

We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.

There have to be some bold predictions in my rankings or else I’d be boring. One of those is that the Miami Hurricanes will have a firm grip on being the fourth best team in the ACC since six of their top seven scorers are back from last season.

Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series. Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.

We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.

With three of their top four scorers gone from last year, the Purdue Boilermakers are in a bit of a transition year. In typical Matt Painter fashion though, he will get the most of out his roster and have the Boilers back in the NCAA Tournament.

The effects of Hurricane Sandy, and the Frankenstorm are already being felt long before it made landfall on the Jersey Shore. The effects are being felt well inland- including central rural, landlocked Pennsylvania.

Welcome to The Sports Bank’s third annual college basketball season preview series. Two years we looked at 99 teams in 99 days. Last year, we were slightly more aggressive and expanded to 111 teams in 111 days and will do so again as we look ahead to the 2012-2013 season.

We will rank the 75 power conference teams and top 36 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.

The Alabama Crimson Tide suffered through their share of ups and downs last season before being a one-and-done in the NCAA Tournament. Despite having a young, thin roster, Anthony Grant should have ‘Bama in the upper half of the SEC standings and back in the Big Dance.